Jennifer Haws, assistant principal of Glenwood Elementary, was selected as the recipient of Virginia’s 2020 NAESP National Outstanding Assistant Principal of the Year (NOAP). The award is presented each annually as a collaborative effort between the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) and the Virginia Association of Elementary School Principals (VAESP). The NOAP program promotes educational excellence for pre-kindergarten through eighth grade schooling and calls attention to the fundamental importance of the assistant principal in every school. It is through this award that VAESP and NAESP honors assistant principals who are doing a superb job in their positions and have brought about positive change in their respective schools.

Glenwood principal David French said the recognition couldn’t have gone to a better person.

“Jenn is a very hard-working school administrator who puts children first,” said French. “Her strong knowledge of quality instruction coupled with her passion for innovative and creative practices make her a relevant and trusted leader.”

In a VAESP press release, Haws was recognized as being actively involved in her school, her division and her community. She is recognized for her role in bringing about a student response team tiered system of support at Glenwood, through her staff training and coordination of the program. She also focused extensively on using technology to transform education by earning a Google Certified Educator certification and sharing her acquired expertise with her school team through staff presentations, Twitter, websites and blogs. Her other accomplishments include serving as President of the Virginia Beach Reading Council, presenter at the VDOE Deeper Learning Conferences and editor for the online lessons for the Virginia Department of Education. Her dedication to students, staff, her profession and her community is evident in all that she does.

Haws received notification of her award in a surprise phone call from VAESP Executive Director Jim Baldwin March 18. She shared, “I am humbled by this recognition and so thankful for all of the wonderful leaders in Virginia Beach City Public Schools and the Virginia Department of Education who have provided years of support, encouragement, motivation and expertise.”

Haws was nominated and selected through a statewide search process conducted by VAESP. The criteria for the National Outstanding Assistant Principal award are set by VAESP and NAESP. It requires that the honoree be an active assistant principal of a school where programs are designed to meet the academic and social needs of all students; demonstrates exceptional leadership in a particular school program; is respected by students, colleagues, parents and the community at large; and sets high expectations for school staff and students.

Since 1970, The Virginia Association of Elementary School Principals has served as Virginia’s professional educational association and now represents over 1,000 elementary and middle school principals throughout the state. VAESP maintains close ties with the metropolitan Washington-based National Association of Elementary School Principals and its 30,000 members nationwide.